The greatest benefit to a raw food diet is the ease by which one can go about the day. Like nature, meals are easy, leaving plenty of mental real estate to address other and more pressing issues. No longer does one have to toil, plan and prepare the meal. Gone are the hours spent shopping for a list of ingredients only to return home and have to deal with them some more. (Unless you’re a Chef, I suppose.)

By consuming only fresh and hopefully organic fruits and vegetables (whenever these are available), can one truly understand and appreciate the bounty of food. We were designed to consume tasty food. And we deserve it!

K.I.S.S. principle works well here. Definately by ‘keeping it simple’ can we truly benefit. And it’s the simplicity of it that appeals to me the most; rinse and go! I love it! Only minutes to satisfaction and super fast and easy clean up as well. There’s no replacement for fresh, organic fruit and veggies. None.

The question of whether Vegans dine out or not, comes up more often than not. So I’m here to say that yes, Vegans can and do go out for meals. Surprisingly, most eateries will accomodate requests to satisfy both vegetarians and vegans so if you see something you like but it has cheese in it, for example, just ask for the omission. Easy enough, right?

I recently had an unexpected and most enjoyable meal at Andrew Weil’s eatery, True Food Kitchenin Newport Beach, Ca. While from the outside it looks somewhat ordinary, the meal experience inside was anything but. True Food Kitchen is a great dining experience. The portions are both generous and reasonably priced. They offer a full menu complete with funky, over-the-top combo drinks in an open and airy environment with a hip vibe.

Our friendly waitress, Amanda, was only too happy to accommodate my request and deliver probably one of the best salads I’ve had the pleasure of consuming. The Mediterranean Salad (sans feta) with Lemon Oregano Vinaigrette on the side did not disappoint.

My dining companion ordered the infamous Tuscan Kale Salad and Tomato Kale Pizza. We topped off our meal with a refreshing scoop of Pomegranate Zuhu Sherbet. Wow! Overall, the entire experience was nothing short of amazing. (Needless-to-say, our plates were left spot clean.) Our total bill was under $40. Not bad for the upscale location.

So if one of the reasons to not going Vegan is because you think you can’t go out or afford a tasty meal, think again. Remove the excuses, go raw and if you’re lucky enough to be in sunny Southern California near Orange County, point the GPS to Fashion Island and True Food Kitchen. You won’t be disappointed.

Insider’s Tip: Most entrees can be ordered in a half-size for half the price so be sure to ask.

We all know that getting a good night’s rest make us feel better the following day. On the best of days, we awake feeling rested and rejuvenated, ready to take on another day. We forge ahead feeling easy and are nicer to others. Maybe even the little things don’t bother us so much. For those of you who are not in this category, there is hope. Read on.
The good news is the benefits of sleep are numerous starting with repairing the body. Sleep also keeps our hearts healthy, our stress levels down, improves our memory, helps regulate our glucose keeping diabetes at bay, decreases our funky moods and helps keep our weight down. How’s that for rewards?! So it’s critical to have a comfy bed, a dedicated space and be consistent with a sleep schedule. All of these keep our bodies fully restored. Are you participating in all of these three? Let’s hope so.

The bad news is that without sleep, our judgment is severely impaired, our moods are ‘off’ and our ability to learn is diminished so make sure you’re getting between 7-8 hrs./night – if at all possible. If you skimp on the necessary time to rest, you’re only hurting yourself. Why risk it?

Overall, sleep plays a vital role in promoting physical health, longevity and emotional wellbeing. I’d like to think a plant-based diet lends itself to all of these and more! Maybe a great dream will descend upon you during REM and you’ll awake feeling inspired, younger or more loving towards another.

For some reason, seeing a cactus is one of the most inspirational views. Perhaps it’s their simplicity or variety; tall or short, thin or chubby, flowers or not, somehow these plants withstand the harshest of environments and thrive. How do they do it? The desert landscapes where they originate are some of the most serene and peaceful places on the planet. If you ever have a chance to visit, you must go and see for yourself.

We should all try to be more like a cactus; to live with less and thrive despite the harsh environment around us. True, we have lots of options for our food consumption and obesity continues to be a global issue. However, it’s the sane person who is enjoying a plant-based diet, enjoying life free from disease and illness and maybe asking ourselves, what else can be eliminated from my diet? It’s not that we’re sadists but just that us vegans do better with less; just like a cactus.

Vegans are such great examples of living the good life; we have our health without which, we become a drain on many levels. Fortunately for us, our bodies are clean at a cellular level, we look and feel great, are free of aches and pains (unless we overdo our exercise) and sleep well each night knowing that our longevity is all but assured. Like a cactus, we thrive despite all of the craziness around us. Now if we could only convince all the rest of you that less is more, we’d really be feeling victorious.

All Aboard! Everyone is invited! Grab your friends and jump on board; the Fruit Train is pulling away! That’s right. Fruit is our friend and promises an exciting adventure down the tracks of life, feeling great and being healthy. Where do you get your ticket? Head on down to your local produce market and load up on every type of fruit you can carry. Better yet, bring a friend to carry even more! You can never have enough fruit on board.

The stops include breakfast, snacks and pre-dinner munch. For starters, there’s nothing better for you than whipping up a fruit smoothie to start your day. This simple meal gets your blood moving and your mind alert. Next, take a few pieces with you when you head out for your day. Odds are you’ll be wanting a snack mid-morning and if you have fruit handy, you’ll reach for that. Fruit travels well and packs up pretty easily (if you’re careful) and makes for a great snack – anytime and just about anywhere. And later, when you’ve returned home, before sitting down for a large meal, munch on yet another piece twenty or so minutes before you sit. This will take the edge off your hunger and when you do sit down to eat, will probably not be as hungry as you were just a short time ago.

And that’s the journey! We all know we need to consume 5 or so servings of fruit each day (minimum) so why wait? The Fruit Train is here and there’s plenty of room for everyone. Grab your ticket and take a seat. It’s going to be a healthy, yummy and fun time for all!

What’s not to love about a banana? These guys are just so versatile and so good for you! What a deal! We can get them pretty much year-round. In fact, did you know that there are hundreds of varieties? They are easy to carry and travel well too. They can be large, medium or small, diced, sliced or dipped in chocolate. With seeds or without, short, fat or long. Frozen or not, bananas are just plain fun! The list of accolades goes on and on.

Most of us already know that nutritionally speaking, they are THE source of potassium, essential for both a healthy heart and a necessary mineral to keep our blood pressures in check. Did you know that bananas can also help divert other ills affecting our eyes? That’s right. And consuming them promotes kidney health as well as stronger bones. In fact, bananas also help with elimination issues and improve our nutrient absorption in the colon. How’s that for benefits?! This fruit is worth its weight in gold.

For all us vegans out there, these guys are a mainstay in our diets. A no brainer, right? Yes. They are a great base for just about any smoothie, are easy to grab and go or if we’re just wanting a little snack. For the rest of you, if you’re thinking about going to a plant-based diet or maybe haven’t had a banana in a while, run out right now and pick up a bunch at your local grocer. Enjoy these yellow powerhouses and think how nice you’re being to yourself.

If you’ve ever had the good fortune to visit a desert for an extended period of time, consider yourself lucky. For the rest of you who maybe haven’t thought about taking such a trip, perhaps it’s time to rethink it. We know that it will be more arid than just about any other place you’ve been but you won’t be disappointed. During the daytime, the desert reflects a barren and harsh place which is exactly what it is. At nighttime, the sky becomes a black velvet cloth sprinkled with diamonds. You just can’t see this stuff near a city. You have to be out in the middle of nowhere. It’s a real feast for the eyes and the soul.

The other side to the desert is the unique types of life that is going on right under our very eyes; strange vegetation grows, various species of creatures prevail and somewhere, deep beneath the dry earth a water source is tapped. And since rain and moisture are rare, these living things must adapt to survive in this harsh environment. Sound familiar?

Since our bodies are constantly combating our own attacks from pollution via the air we breathe or the food we eat, let’s take a hint from the desert and remind ourselves that we too are adaptable creatures living under harsh conditions. With that said, we need to make sure we are nourishing ourselves to survive. If you’re not vegan already, try adapting to a plant-based diet. By giving ourselves living food, we can better fight all the elements externally by reinforcing ourselves internally. There’s no better way to live a healthy and productive existence – in any environment. It’s never too late to get healthy and enjoy longevity.